June 2 Update

     Well here it is June 2 and I'm setting in Mountain Harbour B&B in Roan Mountain, Tn. I could be in the barn with other hikers sleeping over a horse stable with all the results not cleaned up for a while but chose a room. It's not that I don't want to be with them but after a 593 mile hike so far that has and is taken a toll on this old body I decided I deserved a treat.
     I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and how great it will be to finally be home. I found myself stretching the miles each day and thus wearing myself down even more. So no more, I'm going to enjoy the last 9 to 10 days and enjoy what I have seen, travel and the people I have met.
      I even met a guy (Wallet) that I hiked with last year at the shelter last night. We both left the trail about the same time  and even though we started at different places our paths crossed again. It's really amazing how many times this happens out here.
      The B&B has a buffet all you can eat breakfast and I'm  ready. I really can eat what would be 2 meals before and not be full. This is something that I  will have to watch when I get home. I don't want to put all the weight back on (around 20 lbs now) so anyone with ideas let me know. My belt that was about 6 inches too long is now nearing 10 inches.
        The hiking has been more enjoyable lately as the scenery has improved and I know it's coming to a end. Roan mountain is supposed to be  beautiful and that's next. I'm sleeping better (almost all night ) which  starts you day off better. Just as my routine has become set I'll be starting another one.
        I see hikers now that are hitting the wall and will soon have to decide what to do. I feel qualify to share with them having gone through the same last year. It also allows me to share the Lord and how wonderful it is to be a Christian. There are so many that are lost and really don't understand what it means to be a Christian. Please pray for miracles as that's what it's going to take.
         This could be my last post until I get home as I hoping to make Hot Springs before I need to resupply.  Keep praying because I see God's hand protecting me everyday.

Sewing seeds,
Meekness

May 29 Update

Sorry for the disappearance but just got in a rut nothing new, I was just making miles. Just when you start getting bore and thinking about going home look out.

Tara got in touch and wanted to bring Charlie, Anna and William to see me so we started making plans as to where we could meet. I picked a place early in the week near Atkins, VA and made plans to check with each other later. Well, I  didn't plan on no phone service and as the weekend got closer I  realized I  could not get to the spot I picked. I couldn't  get Tara so I started sweating and looked for other places or options. It was Memorial Day weekend so we had to think about other people and vacations. Tara was already ahead of me and found a nice hotel with a in door pool about 20 miles away in Wytheville. Great, now all I  had to do was get somewhere where they could pick me up. I starting asking other hikers about any new hostels or hotels and found out a new hostel (not open yet) was very near. I was only about 8 miles away and it was my last chance. I finally got Tara and told her the general area it was and took off. I got to the road and after flagging down a lady, discovered that they were working on it. She even offered to take me there and off we went. I got to the house knock on the door and someone was there. It turned out she was taken hikers even  though they were still in construction and would open in 2016. So I asked if I could just hang around until Tara came and pick me up. I would come back spend the night if things worked out and she said certainly. So I called Tara and gave her directions and found out she was running behind but at least we had a plan. I wished Vikki had come  but she had other plans (not what I hoped) but at least someone was coming. Well as it turned out Vikki was coming and boy was I  glad to see all of them. Well we had a great time, played in the indoor pool and my spirits  were sky high. They left the next day, I hit the trail full of energy and began to realize with some big days I could be home in 3 weeks.

Then everything starting going right plus Grayson Highlands was coming up where the wild ponies live. The north bound hikers really started to increase and every shelter was fulled. That didn't bother me as I usually camped out even at the shelters but it meant more noise thus harder to get to sleep. These were younger people and more groups that were staying together so more party time. That's life all I hope is that the seeds I covered them with and God's power will get through.

      Now the ponies,everyone was talking about them and how beautiful the Highlands were. I was told I was about 2 days away but I picked up my pace with some 18+ miles days and there they were. The combination of meadows mixed in with mountains and big rock formations plus ponies makes for a beautiful display of God's creation. I was able to walk among the ponies, see the colts and I don't know why but I thought about my Dad and how he would have enjoyed it. He loved anything that brought joy to kids. So I didn't let time matter, I just enjoyed every second there. If you have little kids or grandkids start making plans to go. It's one of the prettiest places I have seen so far.

Well this is a good place to stop and to update the mileage. I'm now in Damacus at mileage 1716 which means 194 more miles to go. Six more miles and I  can check Virginia off my list!!!!!!!!. I'm in my last 2 weeks give or take 1 to 2 days and then I can add that 725 more miles to my total. I feel great and can walk 8 hours with my 30+ pounds pack without much trouble. I have lost about 15 pounds from the 175 starting weigh and other than a little knee soreness have felt good.

Keep the prayers coming as God has watched out for this old boy and I can't wait to share the ups and downs of the my hike.
Meekness

May 19

I have finally made it to dirt trails, what a relief. Well for the last 2 days I have hiked through trees, ground cover and at times what looked like a hole cut through hedges. If I didn't know better, I could just be walking through woods in Gastonia. You can't see through the trees so you don't see anything that makes you think you're still in the mountains other than you keep going down hill. I mean I walk down hill for over 3 to 4 hours at a time. It's  kind of boring and my feet could take a break. I'm just making miles and I'm starting to smell the finish line. I must admit I'm getting real excited knowing the end is near. I'm trying to do at least 16 miles per day and could finish in 21 more days. I'll be glad to check off Virginia and then set my site on Tennessee. I seem to be the only person going south and pass 10 to 20 people going north. I believe there's  more women hiking the AT this year then men. I'm starting to see people that are about to give up so I'm a sharing my story and how sectional hiking allows you to keep your dream of hiking the AT alive and how fun doing it. Well I'm sorry nothing exciting is happening right now but I feel that's getting ready to change. I'll soon be back into mountains and up and down again. Well until next time, I'm gone.
Meekness